Union files new complaints against L+M

New London — Two new unfair labor practice charges have been brought against Lawrence + Memorial Hospital over issues related to employees who work for Lawrence + Memorial Physician Associates, a hospital subsidiary.

AFT Connecticut, the union that represents nurses, technical and health care workers at the main hospital, announced the new charges Tuesday evening. Since January, the union has filed a total of five charges against the hospital related to LMPA workers and their efforts to be part of the hospital union.

In the latest charges, the union said that the hospital is “segregating union and non-union workers” at its Stonington site. In a pending case with the National Labor Relations Board, the union says LMPA workers should be part of the same unions as their counterparts at the main hospital. At the same time, it is pursuing an effort to form a separate union if it is not successful in that case. A majority of the 100 LMPA workers have signed cards stating that they want to join the existing union.

The other new charge alleges that the hospital has threatened to relocate unionized employees and close offices and has threatened employees with loss of pay and benefits.